Boat



July 19, 1966 H. KLEPPER 3,

BOAT

Filed Feb. 17, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOP 1 Hans Kfepper @ZM/ZW/ age- July 19, 1966 Filed Feb. 17, 1965 H. KLEPPER BOAT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENI'OR 11a 22s K/epp er July 19, 1966 H. KLEPPER 3,261,038

BOAT

Filed Feb. 17, 1965 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENI'OP Hans fifepper H. KLEPPER July 19, 1966 BOAT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 17, .1965

FIG. 12

INVENI'OR United States Patent 3,261,038 BOAT Hans Klepper, Rosenheim, Germany, assignor to Hans Klepper Corporation, New York, NY. Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 433,308 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 19, 1964,

K 52,145; July 2, 1964, K 53,372

25 Claims. (Cl. 92)

This invention relates to boats, and more particularly to a partly collapsible, practically unsinkable boat of light weight.

- The type of boat with which this invention is more specifically concerned consists basically of a shell and of one or more external flotation tubes. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a boat in which reliableconnections between the shell and the flotation tube or tubes can be established in a particularly simple and advantageous manner.

' With this object and others in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, the invention in one of its aspects provides a shell whose longitudinal side walls have outer concave faces of substantially circularly arcuate cross section about alongitudinally extending axis. A flotation tube conformingly engages each face along an are about theaxis which extends from a substantially horizontal plane through the axis upwardly at least to a substantially vertical plane through said axis, the terms horizontal and vertical being employed hereinafter with reference to the normal operating position of the boat when afloat in quiet water while carrying a balanced load or no load.

Other features and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a boat of the invention in plan view;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary view of a modified boat;

FIG. 2 shows the boat of FIG. 1 in transverse section on the line II-II;

FIG. 3 illustrates a strap and closure for fastening the flotation tube to the shell of the boat in an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a modified detail of the device of FIG. 3 on a further enlarged scale;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another strap-and-closure arrangement in views respectively corresponding to those of FIGS. 3 and 4; a

. FIG. 7 illustrates yet another strap-and-closure arrangement in a view similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 8 shows a detail of the device of FIG. 7 in a perspective view on a larger scale;

FIG. 9 shows means other than a strap for fastening a flotation tube to the associated side wall in a boat of the invention, the view corresponding to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 illustrates a detail of FIG. 9 on a larger scale;

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged detail of the portion of the boat of FIG. 1 indicated by a circle A;

FIG. 12 illustrates the device of FIG. 11 in section on the line XIIXII;

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a transversely sectional view of a flotation tubefor the boat of the invention; and

. FIG. 15 shows yet another strap arrangement for fastening a flotation tube to the shell in a fragmentary view corresponding to that of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 there is shown a boat whose shell 10 mainly consists of a V-shaped bottom 12, two longitudinal side walls 14 which converge in a forward direction to form a prow 16, and a transom 26 connecting the aft portions of the 3,261,038 Patented July 19, 1966 walls 14. The shell is a unitary structure mainly consisting of synthetic resins, such as polyester plastic, and may be fiber-glass reinforced in a conventional manner.

A housing 30 for a centerboard 32 and a transverse reinforcing member 34 which connects the side walls 14 in the forward portion of the boat are integral with the remainder of the shell structure. An aperture 36 in the member 34 provides means for mounting a mast, and a transom 26 supports a propelling outboard motor 28.

As is better seen in FIG. 2, the side walls 14 extend upward from the bottom 12 and curve cylindrically outward about respective axes which are parallel to the direction of elongation of the shell in the view of FIG. 2, and

approximately horizontal in the normal operating position of the boat.

The side walls 14 are mounted on an approximately U- shaped flotation tube 18 of pliable material which is of generally circular cross section and is filled with air under moderate superatmospheric pressure. The air filling valve or valves of the tube have not been shown since they are well known in themselves. As is also well known, the tube 18 may have integral partitions or contain several individual inflatable cells to divide the air space within the tube into independent sealed compartments.

The outer cylindrically concave face of each side wall is in conforming contact with the cylindrically convex outer face of the tube 18 in an are a which extends from an approximately horizontal plane 20 through the common axis of the tube and concave face upwardly to a vertical plane 22 through the axis, and further in an arc 5 more than 30 beyond the plane 22.

An integral rib 24 which laterally projects from the junction between the side wall 14 and the bottom 12 extends the arc of contact between the shell 10 and the tube 18 in the plane of FIG. 2 downward to the vertical plane 22 so that the tube 18 is enclosed by the shell 10 over at least 210 of its circumference. When the tube 18 is fully inflated it is quite firmly retained by the shell. Straps may be provided for additionally securing the tube 18 to the shell 10. FIG. 1 shows a strap 38a which extends over more than one half of the length of the boat, and several straps 3817 which are longitudinally spaced along the side walls 14. The straps 38a, 38b may be of any of the types that will be discussed presently.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a stnap 38 is secured to the free longitudinal edges of the wall 14 and of the rib 24, which is actually an integral part of the wall, by means of beads 40 on the two circumferential end portions of the strap 38 and by corresponding beads 42 on the free edges of the wall. The beads are connecfled by a clamping member or clip 44 of C-shaped cross section. In the apparatus of FIG. 3, the strap 38 and the wall 14 form a closed loop in which the tube 18 is received.

As is evident from FIG. 3, the strap 38 and the associated closure secure the tube 18 to the boat even where the concave side wall face does not etxend beyond the vertical plane through the axis of the tube 18, and where the rib 24 does not extend downward to that plane. The arrangement seen in FIG. 3 is assembled by partly infllating the tube 18, which may be of fabric-reinforced rub- =ber or the like, and holding it against the concave face of the shell while thestnaip is laid about the tube and secured by the clips 44. When the tube 18 is thereafter fully inflated, its pressure prevents disengagement of the clips from the members of the loop connected thereby.

In the device of FIG. 4, the strap 38 is replaced by two circumferentially spaced short portions 46 of strap material of which only one is seen in FIG. 4, the other one being symmetrically arranged. Each strap portion 46 is secured to the tube 18 *by a layer of adhesive, not visible on the scale of FIG. 4 near the end 48 of the strap portion. In this arrangement, a circumferential wall portion of the tube 18 itself is a member of the securing loop.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 dispenses with clips, and the strap 38 is secured to the side wall 14 by longitudinal channels 52 in the free edge portions of the latter. The channels are open in a circumferential direction and \conformingly [receive beads 50 on the circumferentially terminal portions of the strap 38. The width of the channel opening is narrower than the width of the main portion of the channel 52 or that of the head 50. The beads 50 are longitudinally inserted in the channels 52 during assembly of the device, and the straps 38 are held in their longitudinal positions by the air pressure in the fully inflated tube 18.

The strap 38 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a circumferential dimension sufiicient to form a complete loop about the flotation tube 18. The ci'rcumferentially central portion of the strap 38 is adhesively secured to the concave outer face of the wall 14, and the free circumferential end portions carry integral tube sections 56, the sections on each end portion are coaxial, and are axially spaced from each other to permit coaxial interposition of the tube sections of the other circumferential end portion in the manner partly shown in FIG. 8. A pin 58 coaxially received in the aligned tube sections 56 combines the latter in a releasable closure 54 somewhat similar to a piano hinge.

In assembling the tube 18 with the 'shelil by means of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the partly inflated tube 18 is positioned against the attached portion of the strap 38, and the loop of the strap is closed about the tube 18 by means of the closure 54.

Where the concave outer faces of the wall 14 and the rib 24 extend around the. tube 18 in an arc of approximately 180 or more, the tube 18 may be secured to the shell 10 without straps as is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Radialtly projecting, axially elongated ribs 60' of suitably stiff rubber composition are vulcanized tothe outer face of the tube 18 and are received in two correspondingly shaped grooves 62 in the side wall 14. The arrangement shown in FIGS. ,9 and 10 is assembled very quickly while the tube 18 is only partly inflated, and is secured by the. internal air pressure of the fully inflated tube.

FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate the manner of securing the axially terminal aft portions of the tube 18 to the shell 10. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 within the circle A. A portion 64 of the cylindrically curved side wall 14 projects aft beyond the transom 26 and is releasab ly attached to the associated tube 18 by a fastening arrangement 66. The tube 18 extends axially beyond the side wall portion 64.

As seen in FIG. 12, the fastening arrangement 66 mainly consists of a collar 7 0 which tapers approximately conically in a direction away from the free aft edge of the side wall 14 which is elongated in a transverse plane. The edge is received in a groove 68 radially enclosed in an outward direction by the collar 70 and extending at least over as much of the circumference of the tube 18 as the tube portion 64.

The modified fastening arrangement shown in FIG. 13 includes a collar 72 fixedly mounted on the tube 18 and having a thickness approximately equal to that of the side wall 14. It is positioned in axial abutment against the aforementioned edge of the wall 14, and is connected to the wall by a sleeve 74 which axially overlaps the junction between the collar 72 and the walil 14. If the sleeve 74 is made of resilient material, it need not be fastened to the elements connected thereby, but it may be attached to either element without seriously interfering with assembly and disassembly of the boat.

FIG. 14 shows a modified flotation tube 18 for use with a boat of the invention. The tube is reinforced by externlal, axially elongated ribs 76. Such ribs are compati'ble with many of the arrangements described hereinabove for securing the tube 18 to the boat shell 10. Where they would interfere with straps or the like, they may be arranged on the internal tube wall in an analogous manner not further illustrated. If the tube 18 contains individual sealed flotation cells in the manner referred to herein/above, the ribs may be interposed between the inner tube wall and the individual cells.

FIG. 15 shows yet another strap arrangement for fastening a flotation tube to the side wall 14 in a boat of the invention. The arrangement differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 in having a strap 38 which extends in a closed loop about the axis of the outer cylindrically curved face on the wall 14. The strap 38 is fixedly atached to the wall 14 by cementing or heat sealing in a manner not further illustrated. The modified arrangement shown in FIG. 15 is structurally simple and very reliable. It requires the partly inflated tube 18 to be threaded sequentially during assembly of the boat through the several loops of the straps 38". When fully inflated, the tube, not itself shown in FIG. 15, cannot slip or be withdrawn from the loops. I v

The configuration of the concave outer faces of the side walls 14 in the boat of the invention penmits a wide choice of fastening methods for securing a flotation tube to the boat shell, and the above description of several .preferred fastening methods will suggest yet other methods to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates only toprefenred embodiments of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention chosen 'for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A boat comprising, in combination:

(a) a shell having two longitudinal side walls of shape retaining material,

(1) each side wall being of substantially circularly arcuate cross section about a longitudinally extending axis, the outer face of said wall being concave; and

(b) a flotation tube conformingly engaging each of said faces along an are about said axis extending from a substantially horizontal plane through said axis upwardly at least to a substantially vertical plane through said axis.

2. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said are is continuous and extends at least thirty degrees beyond said vertical plane.

3. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side walls converge in a forward direction jointly to constitute a prow, said flotation tubes extending longitudinally to said prow.

4. A boat as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flotation tubes jointly constitute a unitary substantially U-shaped structure.

5. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shell is of substantially V-shaped transverse section.

6. A boat as set forth in claim 1, further comprising reinforcing ribs on said flotation tubes.

7. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shell is a unitary structure mainly consisting of synthetic resin.

8. A boat .as set forth in claim 1, further comprising strap means for securing said tubes to said faces respectively.

9. A boat as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strap means include a plurality of strap members longitudinally spaced on said tubes,

10. A boat as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strap means include a strap member engaging one of said tubes and the associated outer face over a major portion of the length of said shell.

11. A boat as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strap means include a strap member fixedly fastened to one of said side walls to constitute a closed loop with the associated side wall, one of said tubes being received in said loop.

12. A boat as set forth in claim 8, further comprising closure means for releasably connecting said strap means and the associated side wall, said strap means and said side wall constituting members of a loop at least partly encircling one of said tubes.

13. A boat as set forth in claim 12, wherein said loop extends in a plane, said closure means including two axially alignable tubular portions on respective members of said loop, and a pin member coaxially received in said tubular portions, the common axis of said tubular portions and of said pin member being transverse of the plane of said loop.

14. A boat as set forth in claim 12, wherein said closure means include two heads on respective members of said loop and a substantially C-shaped clamp connecting said beads.

15. A boat as set forth in claim 12, wherein one of the members of said loop is formed with a circumferentially open channel, and said closure means include a bead on another member of said loop received in said groove, the width of the opening of said channel being smaller than the corresponding width of said bead.

16. A boat as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strap means include a strap member having an end portion fixedly fastened to said shell.

17. A boat as set forth in claim 8, wherein said strap means include a strap member fixedly fastened to one of said tubes.

18. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said tubes has a convex outer face opposite said outer face of the associated side wall, one of said outer faces being formed with a groove, and a rib on the other outer face engaging said groove, said tube being of pliable material and adapted to be inflated.

19. A boat comprising in combination:

(a) a shell having two longitudinal side walls,

(1) each side wall having an outer concave face of substantially circularly arcuate cross section about a longitudinally extending axis;

(b) a flotation tube conformingly engaging each of said faces along an are about said axis extending from a substantially horizontal plane through said axis upwardly at least to a substantially vertical plane through said axis.

(1) said outer face having a free edge portion elongated in a transverse plane; and

(c) fastening means engaging said free edge portion for securing the same to the associated flotation tube.

20. A boat as set forth in claim 19, wherein said fastening means include means on the associated tube defining a groove having an arcuate orifice, and receiving said edge portion.

21. A boat as set forth in claim 20, wherein said edge portion projects beyond the remainder of said shell in a lengthwise direction.

22. A boat as set forth in claim 19, wherein said fastening means include a collar on said tube about said axis, said collar and said tube jointly defining an annular groove open in an axial direction and receiving said edge portion.

23. A boat as set forth in claim 19, wherein said fastening means include a collar on said tube about said axis, and a sleeve axial-1y overlapping said collar and said edge portion.

24. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said are is continuous and extends beyond said vertical plane.

25. A boat as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arc is longer than References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

D. P. NOON, A. H. FARRELL, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A BOAT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A SHELL HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL SIDE WALLS OF SHAPE RETAINING MATERIAL, (1) EACH SIDE WALL BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULARLY ARCUATE CROSS SECTION ABOUT A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AXIS, THE OUTER FACE OF SAID WALL BEING CONCAVE; AND (B) A FLOTATION TUBE CONFORMINGLY ENGAGING EACH OF SAID FACES ALONG AN ARC ABOUT SAID AXIS EXTENDING FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE THROUGH SAID AXIS UPWARDLY AT LEAST TO A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE THROUGH SAID AXIS. 